Types

Sellsword

A sellsword is a soldier who hires out his services to the highest bidder. Most sellswords are professionals with some experience in fighting.[2] Sellswords are more common in Essos than in Westeros, as Westerosi lords are more likely to raise feudal levies.[1] The mercantile cities of Lys, Myr, and Tyrosh are protected by hired sellswords.[3] Some fighting men or exiles who run out of money become sellswords, such as Ser Jorah Mormont.[4] Many sellswords keep their worldly possessions close at hand, such as expensive weaponry, armor, and silks.[5]

Free Companies

Many sellswords are organized into free companies. Some are acclaimed for their loyalty and discipline, such as the Golden Company,[15][12][16] while others are nothing but rabble joined together in search of loot, like the Brave Companions.[17][18] Some captains are alleged to instigate wars during peacetime,[19] and some companies attempt to conquer the Disputed Lands when not under contract.[20] Men of the free companies name themselves as they choose, so some exiles from Westeros might claim the name of extinct Houses.[5]

Freerider

"Freerider" is a broad term, sometimes used to denote a mounted sellsword, but more often referring to other mounted fighters who are not part of a lord's retinue or feudal levy. Most do not collect wages, instead fighting for plunder or a hope to be taken into a lord or knight's service. Freeriders are mostly used as scouts, outriders, foragers, and light cavalry.[1]

Some freeriders are similar to hedge knights, only lacking knighthood.[1] Others are green, untrained recruits and farm boys who have nowhere else to go. While some refugees flee to a larger settlement when war sweeps over villages, others become freeriders for a better chance of being fed and thereby avoid becoming outlaws or broken men.[1]

Sellsail

A sellsail is a hired sailor who engages in naval battles for pay, including seaborne mercenaries and pirates. Most fleets are based in the Stepstones.[21] Sellsails such as Salladhor Saan may work as pirates or smugglers when not employed.[22]

The Winds of Winter

Warning This information has thus far been released in a sample chapter for The Winds of Winter, and might therefore not be in finalized form. Keep in mind that the content as described below is still subject to change.

Quotes

A mounted man who fights for pay could be called either a freerider or a sellsword. Both terms carry a certain stigma in Westeros. Sellswords are said to have no loyalty, and freeriders no discipline.[1]

More than once, I have dreamed of giving up the crown. Take ship for the Free Cities with my horse and my hammer, spend my time warring and whoring, that's what I was made for. The sellsword king, how the singers would love me.[36]

Tyrion: In Westeros, the word of a Lannister is considered good as gold.Tybero: This is not Westeros. On this side of the narrow sea, we put our promises on paper. Debts written on the wind tend to be ... forgotten, shall we say?[52]